Machine for planting grain between rows of standing corn and the like



2 SHEETS--SHEET l u INVENTOR 50k/IN o. 445x Feb. 19, 1952 E, D HALEY MACHINE FOR PLANTING GRAIN BETWEEN ROWS OF STANDING CORN AND THE LIKE Filed DSG. 9, 1949 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 19, 1952 Filed Dec. 9, 1949 E. D. HALEY MACHINE F'OR PLANTING GRAIN BETWEEN ROWS OF STANDING CORN AND THE LIKE K 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 INVENTOR EW//V ,0. HLEY ffjffmazqmm 7d/www2 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATESv PATENT orifice 4 Claims.

Myv invention relates to a machine for planting gainv between rows of standard corn and the li e.

The primary object of myV invention is to provide a machine of the above-mentioned character embodying a novel' hitch device for connecting a narrow gauge grain drill or planter with the rear endl of a narrow gauge tractor, so that wheatl or other small grain` may be planted between rows of standing corn.

A. further object is to. provide a machine of the above-mentioned character including a hitch device operable from the drivers. seat of .a tractor` ior'raisingl and'lowering the grain drillor planter out of and into its operative position.

A further object is to provide a novel hitch. device for connecting the grain drill with the rear endl of a tractor, whereby the tractor and drill` may negotiate turns without liability of 11p setting the grain.. drill.

A further object is to provide a hitch device of the above-mentioned character, operable to raise the forward end of the grain drill above the ground so that the tractor mayr pass irom one heldv to another withoutv sowing seed` during such passage.

A further object is to provide a hitch device for connecting a tractor with a conventional grain drill or planter, the hitch device being operated by asingle operating lever arranged adjacent to the drivers seat of the tractor, whereby the grain drill may be readily shifted from the operative to the inoperative position.

A still further object is to providel a machine of the above-mentioned character which is siniplied, compact, easy to operategsturdy andrelatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will be apparent during the courseof the following description.

In the accompanying drawingsformingA apart of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like partsH throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grain-planting machine embodying my invention,- with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan View ofV thelmaclinef, with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is. an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section takenon line 3-3 of Figure l; I

FigureA 4V isV a side` eleva-tion of the elements shown in Figure 3;.

Figurev 5 is a-n enlarged fragmentary'. sid'el'el'e-l vaticany offtractor dise-operating mechanisms" Figure 6 is' a fragmentary perspective view or the t'op.` portionV of`4 a hitch j and Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary side ele'- vation o'r: tractor disc-operating mechanism in position for having the' tractor discs engaging theg'round".

In= the drawings, where, for' the purpose of il.

lustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of 'my invention, the' numeral' It' designates'generally the narrow gauge tractor. This tractor Ii) includes the usual horizontal r'nainr frame I I having the usual drivers' seat I2' mounted thereabove. The' steering wheel t3: isV arranged forwardly of the drivers seat t2, andthe tractor has the usual rear large traction wheel Id.. Rigidly secured to the rear end of themain frame II area pair or laterally spaced', depending, rigid bars I5 having a transverse, horizontal' drawbar IE- rigidly secured theretofby weldingor the like.

Rigidly secured tothe drawbar I6' and extending vertically above the frame and above the top of themain framei Il', asshownf, is a'verticafl sup'- port or mounting frame including laterallyy oppositelyi disposed',` upwardly convergingl bars I1 rigidly connected' at their tops by a horizontal, transverseibar I8 rigidlyl secured thereto by welding or the'like. Pivotally connected with the bar I8Ql in the longitudinall center thereof is ahorizontal,` re'zirwardlyl extending bar or beam I9 having its: forward1 end pivotally connected with the bar; I8-ior movement abouta vertical axis, as at 2B, The beam I9 extends longitudinally rearwar-idly of the bar' I8-` for a substantial distance, and is* provided at its rear end' with a pair of laterally spaced, rear, longitudinal extensions or bars 2I. A pair of'strong, retractile coil springs I9"'have their rearward ends secured to opposite sides otthef beam I9; near the longitudinal centerof the'. lucani",` and the' front ends of these springerar'e connected to'ftneb'ar I at' points' I8' uponoppositesidesoi th'ehea'm" I9; Figures 2 and 6.1 Theiarrangement' iss'iieh that' the beam I9 mayswinglinoriz'ontauy aboutits'pivot 20, but the springs' IQfJtendltdret'u'ijn" it to its' central longitudinally exteidiig'pdstien, Figure 2 1'Arranged-directlyeeiowthe bar I9 and' adja- 'entto-ith drawba-'f IIE-L aindextendihg longitudinally: rearwardly ofi the' drawbar is* a' horizontal cylindricalhitcl'if ba oifslfiaft 2'?,v having rigidly secured-itc -1ts` `forwardeiidby welding'lor the like ari'gid; transverse ioekin'g' barza'. The locking barfZSVis-aiiriangedfadiaceritto the rear of the -difawbar I=6,i Figures K and4 1Vand upper and lower hito "plateau-"and 25-havetheir rear and for- Wardllds'irestiectivly ciinectedvvithfthe hitch ward, transverse pin arranged forwardly of the end of the tube 28 and engaging in a short, transverse sleeve 3| welded to the top of a short, longitudinal sleeve 32. The sleeve 32 slidably receives the hitch bar 23 therein longitudinally forwardly of the forward end of the tube 28, as shown. The sleeve 32 is xedly secured to the tube 28 by means of the transverse sleeve 3| and generally U- shaped bracket 29. A pair of adjustable sleeves or collars 33 are mounted upon the hitch bar 23 forwardly and rearwardly of the sleeve 32, and the sleeves 33 are locked in selected, adjusted positions upon the bar 23 by set screws 34 or the like. By means of the set screws 34 and collars 33, it is obvious that the hitch bar 23 may be adjusted longitudinally within the tube 28.

Rigidly secured to the rear end of the tube 28 and arranged upon opposite sides of the same are transversely oppositely disposed brackets or arms 35 spaced apart transversely beyond'the rear end of the tube 28, Figure 3. The arms 35 have aligned apertures pivotally receiving a transverse pin 36 having rigidly mounted thereon for rotation therewith a generally vertically disposed, short tube 31 slidably receiving therein for reciprocation a generally vertical, straight rod 38. The rod 38 is disposed in the transverse center of the tractor and extends vertically upwardly beyond the arm or bar I9 and between the extensions 2| thereof longitudinally forwardly ofthe pin 22. The rod 38 is slidable between the extensions 2|. The bottom end of rod 38 extends below the bottom of the sleeve or tube 31, as shown.

The top of the rod 38 is xedly connected with the forward ends of elongated, straight, down- Wardly inclined braces or rods 39 which diverge rearwardly and have their rear ends pivotally connected with the rear ends of braces 4U of a conventional grain drill or planter, designated generally by the numeral 4 I. The braces 4l) constitute elements of the grain drill and have their rear ends connected with the upper forward corners of a grain box or hopper 42. Additional longitudinal braces 43 are connected at their rear ends near the rear upper corners of the hopper 42 and at their forward ends with the forward ends of the braces 40, as shown at 44. The drill or planter 4| further includes the usual generally horizontal support frame 45 having its forward end supported by a ground-engaging, large wheel 46 mounted upon a transverse axle 41 journaled upon the opposite sides of the frame 45. The rear end of the grain drill is supported by wheels 48and the grain drill includes the usual depending grain shoes 49 which distribute the grain rearwardly of the furrow-forming discs 50 rigidly mounted beneath the hopper 42 in a conventional manner. The construction of the drill or planter 4| is conventional and well known. 'Ihe arrangement is such that when the support frame 45 of the drill has its vforward end raised or lowered, the large wheel 46, discs 50 and grain shoes 49 are likewise raised and lowered out of and into operative relation with the ground. When the wheel 46 engages the ground, it operates gearing.;

elongated,

including sprocket chain 46', for causing the drill 4| to plant or distribute the grain.

A short, rearwardly extending bracket 5| is rigidly mounted upon the rod 3B near the longitudinal center of such rod, and connected with. the bracket 5|, as at 52, is an elongated vertical bar 53 extending downwardly adjacent to the rear side of the rod 38 and vterminating in a short, forwardly inclined extension 54 connected at its bottom end, as shown at 55, with a short, forwardly extending bracket 56, in turn rigidly secured Ato the bottom of the rod 38. As shown at 51, the

Y forward endy of the drill support frame 45 is ilx edly connected with the bar 5 3 near and below the longitudinal center of such bar. Relatively Y short, longitudinal, inclined braces 58, forming parts of the grain drill 4 I, have their forward ends l fixedly connected, as at 59, with the bar 53, below the top of the same, and the rear ends of the braces 58 are connected at 44 with the forward ends of the braces 48 and 43', as shown in Figure l. Rigidly mounted upon the top side of one of the bracketsl 35 is an upstanding, apertured bracket 60 having pivotally mounted thereon, as at 6I, a vertically swingable tube guide 62 slidably receiving a cable 63, having its bottom end extending below the brackets 35 and connected with 'the forward end of the bracket 56, as shown. The top end of the cable 63 may be connected with a short chain 64 connected at its top with a rearwardly extending, inclined, elongated arm 65 of a bell crank lever, rigidly mounted upon a horizontal, transverse rock shaft 66 journaled at its opposite ends upon blocks or bearings 61 rigidly secured to the upsta'ndng bars I 'I near and above the longitudinal centers of such bars. The vbell crank lever also includes a forward, upstanding, short arm 68 pivotally connected, as at 69, with the rear end of an elongated, inclined, longitudi-l nally shiftable control rod 10 arranged adjacent to one side of the main frame II of the tractor. The arm 68 of the bell crank lever is secured to the end of the rock shaft 66 adjacent to the control rod 10, as shown in Figure 2. When the shaft 66 rocks or rotates, the arms 65 and 68 swing in a vertical plane. The forward eid of the control rod 10 extends forwardly of the drivers seat I2 and is pivotally connected withl the bottom end of a vertically swingable control lever 1I pivotally mounted above its lower end, as at 12, upon a vertically disposed, adjusting sector 13 rigidly mounted upon the adjacent side of the main frame II and including an arcuate group of teeth 14 for coaction with a locking pawl device in the form of a sleeve 15 slidably mount--l ed upon the lower portion of the lever 7|, and raised and lowered along the lever 1| by means of the usual pivoted squeeze lever 16 and cOi'1-' necting rod 11. When the lever 1I is swung by the driver of the tractor, it is obvious that the control rod 1D will be shifted longitudinally.

Pivotally connected with the bottom of the lever 1I slightly above the control rod 10 is a relatively short, forwardly longitudinally extending control rod 18 disposed generally horizontally and having its forward end arranged adjacent to the rear end of the tractor engine. The control rod 18 has its; forward end pivotally connected, as at 19, with the forward, upstanding arm of a generally V-shaped bell crank lever including an integral, rearwardly inclined arm 8| integral with the arm, 80. The bell crank lever having the arms 8U and 8| is adapted to swing in a Vertical plane close to the adjacent side ofthe main frame I I of the tractor. This bell crankA lever isl mounted upon the square, transverse, horizontalshaft82= extending transversely' of theA main frame |'|V of the tractorv for the entire width ofthe main frame and laterally outwardly beyond. both sides; of the same.

The shaft 82' is rotatably or rockably mounted upon the main frame of the tractor and is rocked when the arm 89 of the V-shaped bell crank lever is swung vertically. The end of the square. shaft 82 remote from thev arm 80, control. rod', 18. and associated elements, has rigidly mounted thereon an upstanding lever or crank 83v adapted to swine' vertically and disposed. close to the-.adjacent sideof thevframe` ofA the tractor.

The. tractor I8 isl equipped with a. seti of plow discs 84 dependingly mounted. 'below the main frame and slightly forwardly.Y of"v and. below. the steering. wheel. I3..

Theplow discs 8.4; are mounted. upon` a frame, the frame including a. top, horizontal plate.v or bar 8.5- extending transverselyof. the tractor.below the: main frame thereof, and. laterally out..-y wardly beyond both sides of the tractor main frame.. Near andinwa-rdly of the. opposite; ends of the bar 85,.. the same. has rigidly mounted thereon upstanding: vertical. posts; or plates 83 disposedadjacent' to. the sides of the:` mainframe Vertically spaced, horizontal links 81 and 83 haveV their; forward: ends pivotally connected. withthe posts'L 8.6. near the; tops and. bottoms: of; the posts, respectively; Thet rearv ends of: the links 811' and 881 are pivot/allyv connected,` asty at 8.9v and 99., with. verticalA bars'. 9|. fixedly secured to; the adjacent. sides` ofi the: frame; forwardly of' the. wheel |14 and. depending belowthebottom of the frame Li', asv shown.. The, links 81.-" and 88 are freely swingable vertically in. unison forraising and. lowering the posts 8.5., in. turn. raisingV and lowering thev bar 8.5. and plow discs 84. Laterally outwardly'off the posts'` 85, upstanding. generally vertical rods 92Y and. 913. are: pivotal'ly connected at their bottoml endsi with apertured lugs 9.4i rigidlyv securedv to the top of: the bar 85v outwardly of the posts 88. The tops' ofl the rods 93` extend adjacent to the top of the bell crank arm 8| and crank or lever 83, as shown, and the tops of the rods slidably engage withinl the sleeves 95` and 96 pivotally connected. with the topof the arm 8| and lever 83;.respectively. The rods 92 and 93 have xedly mounted thereon near their top ends stop collars or rings 91 to limit the upward travel of the sleeves 95 and 96 along the rods 92 and 93. Similar stop collars 98 are fixedly secured to the rods 92 and.93 near and above their bottom ends, and strong, expansib'l'e coil springs 99 surround the rods 9-2 and 93 betweenthe stop co1lars198 in the bottoms of the. sleeves 95.' and 98'. The springs 99 servev to. bias theI plow discs 84A downwardly. The arm 8.! andlever' 83" are swingable vertically through the operation' of the control lever 1| to raise. and lower the groupl of" plow discs 84.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

With the parts assembled, as shown and described, the tractor |0.is driven forwardly in the usual manner between adjacent standing rows of corn or the like. The tractor is of a narrow gauge type, as is the drill or planter 2|, so that the tractor and drill may pass between adjacent standing rows of corn. The hitch device sho-wn and described and connecting the rear end of the tractor with the drill 4| permits the tractor and drill to negotiate turns at the ends of rows and the like with ease and without liability ofi the drill 4| upsetting. 4vThe plow'discs 84 ofthe tractor and thedis'cs'50 and grain-shoe 49, of theI drill. are simultaneously shifted toandv from their operative. positions by means 'of a single operatinglever 1| adjacent to. the drivers seat of the tractor; l'

With the lever 1| pulled? rearwardly, as in Figure l. both of the sets of discs 84 of the tractor and forward end of the drill 4| will be elevated, as shown in Figure l. When the lever 1| is' swung forwardly, the plow discs 84 and forward end of the. drill. 4| will be lowered simultaneously into operative engagement with :the ground. When the lever 1| is swung forwardly, the'. sleeve 15 iirst being disengaged from the teeth 14, tli'e'forwardly extending operating rod: 13 is shifted longitudinally rearwardly, Figure 1, and the arm 8| of the V-shaped'l bell crank lever swings downwardly vertically, lowering the sleeves'95 and 96 in opposition tothe force ofthe spring 99, which through the stop collars 98 cause the rods 92 and 93% to belowered, shifting; the plow discs 84 into operative engagement with. the ground. Simultaneously,.when the lever 1| is swung forwardly, the rod 1'0 is shifted longitudinally rearwardly, lowering the arm 65 and cable 63 and lowering the rod 38 within the guide tube 31 and between the extensions 2|. When the rod 38 is thus lowered, the bar 53 will be lowered with it, lowering-the drill support frame 45, wheel 48', discs 59 and seed or grain. shoes49. The grain drill is.l thus simultaneously lowered into operative: relation with the ground.

The tractor may'turn freely inA either direction, and both. the tractor and drill 4| may negotiate turns together because' of the pivotal connection between` the rod 38 and; tube 31. The pointI of pivot or hinged. connection between the tractor and. grain. drill is. thusV along" the vertical axis of the: rod:v 38,. the hitch bar 23 being held against swinging; movement by the. locking'bar 23', as previously described. Likewise, the; vertical rod 38- is rotatable between the extensions 2| and withirrthe'v tube 31. The rodsor braces 39 prevent any'A tendency of the drill 4| to turn over, as do the. extensions 2|, which receive the rod 38 between them. As is'sobvious, when the. lever 1| is. again. pulled. rearwardly. and locked by means@ of:A the sleeve15 and. teeth 14 inthe rear.- most position, the plow discs 84. and forward' end of. the. drill. 4| will again be simultaneously raised outof. operative. relation with the ground. With the: discs 84 and forward end of the drill thus raised, the tractorand` drill may be 'driven from eldto.. field withoutv plowing or sowing seed on the-way. l

It isto. be understood that the form` of my invention` herewith shown and described isto be taken asa preferred example of the same, and that'variouschanges in shape, size and arrangementfofparts' maybe resorted to withoutl departing; from the spirit: of' my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A hitch device for connecting the rear end of a tractor equipped with a drawbar to the forward end of a grain drill frame or the like, said hitch device comprising an upstanding frame mounted upon the drawbar and projecting above the same for a substantial distance adjacent to the rear end of the tractor, a rearwardly longitudinally extending bar secured to the top of the upstanding frame and having a guide opening, an elongated vertically shiftable rod slidably engaging in the guide opening and having its bottom end extending near and below the drawbai' of the tractor, a. substantially horizontal longitudinally extending hitch bar having itsv forward end connected with the drawbar and having a generally vertical sleeve pivotally connected' with its rear end, the sleeve receiving said vertical-rod therein for reciprocation, a member secured to the generally vertical rod for movement therewith and arranged longitudinally rearwardly of the sleeve, the forward end of the grain drill frame being fixedly connected with said member. to be raised and lowered thereby, a bell crank lever mounted upon said upstanding frame, a flexible element connected with said bell crank lever and with the bottom of the generally vertical rod, and mechanical means operable from the drivers seat of the tractor and connected with the bell crank lever to swing it for raising and lowering the generally vertical rod and member to elevate and lower the forward end of the grain drill frame.

2. A hitch device for connecting a grain drill with the rear end of a tractor having a drawbar, said grain drill including a generally horizontal support frame adapted to have its forward end raised and lowered, said hitch device comprising a substantially vertical frame mounted upon the drawbar of the tractor and extending above the same for a substantial distance, a rearwardly extending substantially horizontal bar pivotally connected with the top of the frame and disposed at the transverse center of the tractor, said rearwardly extending bar having a guide opening formed therein near its rear end, a substantially horizontal longitudinally extending hitch bar having its forward end connected with theidrawbar near the transverse center of the drawbar and extending below and substantially parallel to said longitudinally rearwardly extending bar, a vertically swingable guide tube pivotally mounted upon the rear end of said hitch bar, an elongated substantially vertical rod slidably mounted within said guide tube and extending through said guide opening of said longitudinally rearwardly extending bar, a vertical bar secured to the rear side of the substantially vertical rod and disposed rearwardly of the guide tube, the forward end of the grain drill support frame being flxedly connected with said last-named bar between its ends, a vertically swingable bell crank lever pivotally mounted upon the vertical frame near and below the top of the frame, a generally vertical cable connected with the bell crank lever` and with the bottom of the elongated vertical rod below the guide tube, a longitudinally extending control rod having its rear end pivotally con'- nected with the bell crank lever and its forward end terminating adjacent to the drivers seat of the tractor, and a lever pivotally mounted upon the tractor adjacent to the drivers seat and operatively connected with the forward end of the control rod for shifting such rod longitudinally to raise and lower the forward end 'ofthe grain drill support frame.

3. A hitch device for connecting the rear end of a tractor equippedwith a drawbar to the forward end of a gain drill frame, said hitch device comprising an upstanding frame mounted upon said drawbar, a vrearwardly longitudinally extending bar secured to the top of said frame and having a guide means, a vertically disposed rod slidably engaging in said guide means, the longitudinally extending hitch bar having its forward end connected with said drawbar and having a vertical sleeve pivotally connected with its rear end, the sleeve receiving said vertical rod thereon for reciprocation, a member Vsecured to said rod for movement therewith and arranged longitudinally rearwardly of said sleeve, the forward end of said grain drill frame being xedly connected with said member to be raised and lowered thereby, and a hand actuable means operatively connectedto the bottom of said vertical rod for raising and lowering said rod and member to elevate and lower the forward end of the grain drill frame.

4. A hitch device for connecting the rear end of a tractor equipped with a drawbar to the forward end of a grain drill frame, said hitch device comprising an upstanding frame mounted upon said drawbar, a rearwardly longitudinally extending bar connected to the top of said frame for movement Aabout a vertical axis and having a 'guide means, a vertically disposed rod slidably engaging in said guide means, a longitudinally extending hitch bar having its forward end connected with said drawbar and having a vertical sleeve pivotally connected with its rear end, the sleeve receiving said vertical rod therein for reciprocation, a member secured to said rod for movement therewith and arranged longitudinally rearwardly of said sleeve, the forward end of said grain drill frame being flxedly connected with said member to be raised and lowered thereby, resilient means operatively connected to said bar and said frame for urging said bar toward its lon- Y gitudinally extending position, and hand actuable means operatively connected to the bottom of said vertical rod for raising and lowering said rod and member to elevate and lower the forward end of the grain drill frame.

EDWIN D. HALEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,233,375 Lindsten July 17, 1917 1,663,249 Graham et al Mar. 20, 1928 2,076,673 Roper Apr. 13, 1937 2,248,505 McKahin July 8, 1941 2,346,330 Ratclifl:` Apr. 11, 1944 

